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- Thread starter Chief Pounderhard
- Start date
Interesting base rifle but it does have a few issues.
I would personally want to take a closer look at the stock, as the front band is not factory original (‘closed milled’ bands didn’t show up until early 1942).
The midway duffel cute is also a bit of a detractor. While its part of the history of the rifle, and most collectors don’t mind a normal duffel cut (under the rear band… so not visible), a lot of collectors really don’t like the midway duffel cut.
Then as you said the stock has clearly been refinished and the bolt doesn’t match.
Givens its current issues I would say in the $1500 zone… maybe a little less or more depending on the buyer.
I would personally want to take a closer look at the stock, as the front band is not factory original (‘closed milled’ bands didn’t show up until early 1942).
The midway duffel cute is also a bit of a detractor. While its part of the history of the rifle, and most collectors don’t mind a normal duffel cut (under the rear band… so not visible), a lot of collectors really don’t like the midway duffel cut.
Then as you said the stock has clearly been refinished and the bolt doesn’t match.
Givens its current issues I would say in the $1500 zone… maybe a little less or more depending on the buyer.
I was told the barrel shows it’s a Depot spare barrel installed, and the barrel bands shows markings of a stamped “1” to show proof of it. Yes the stock is it biggest downside for me, I wished the previous owner didn’t drill the stock and refinish it
The barrel may very well be a depot replacement, but are the bands numbered to the rifle?
‘1’ stamp on the barrel band wouldn’t be a depot thing, but it could be a marking from a parts subcontract that supplied components to the depot system itself.
A depot mark would have been on the stalk, but its likely not visible now.
Is the butt plate numbered to the rifle?
Yup, all the parts are numbered the same to the rifle. Except the bolt, the bolt parts are matching to it self though.
I agree with Hale.
0,2 on the barrel shoulder is what indicates an ordinance spare. Bands wouldn’t be marked in any way to indicate barrel replacement.
Front band is not factory original, but may have been replaced when the barrel was. That’s where it gets tricky. Depending on where the repair work was done, the band font is probably different and that makes it harder to authenticate.
Cool gun though.
0,2 on the barrel shoulder is what indicates an ordinance spare. Bands wouldn’t be marked in any way to indicate barrel replacement.
Front band is not factory original, but may have been replaced when the barrel was. That’s where it gets tricky. Depending on where the repair work was done, the band font is probably different and that makes it harder to authenticate.
Cool gun though.
That rifle has a lot of things wrong with it.
There are marks from a pipe wrench jaws showing in a couple of the pics you posted.
I've seen this sort of thing before, where the barrel was taken off, stored away and another of a more readily available/popular chambering installed. Also, the stock may have been cut off at that time and not a "duffle cut" at all.
The bolt take down disc and the butt plate are black, they should be in the white.
That rifle screams that it was "sportered" then put back to as close to original as possible with the parts remaining. The front band should have a matching number as well. As for it not being correct, if the rifle went in for repair or rebarreling, that band may have been replaced but it should have been stamped with the receiver serial #.
In the condition shown, that rifle isn't a $1500 rifle. It's worth whatever someone wanting a shooter grade K98 will pay for it.
There are marks from a pipe wrench jaws showing in a couple of the pics you posted.
I've seen this sort of thing before, where the barrel was taken off, stored away and another of a more readily available/popular chambering installed. Also, the stock may have been cut off at that time and not a "duffle cut" at all.
The bolt take down disc and the butt plate are black, they should be in the white.
That rifle screams that it was "sportered" then put back to as close to original as possible with the parts remaining. The front band should have a matching number as well. As for it not being correct, if the rifle went in for repair or rebarreling, that band may have been replaced but it should have been stamped with the receiver serial #.
In the condition shown, that rifle isn't a $1500 rifle. It's worth whatever someone wanting a shooter grade K98 will pay for it.
I agree with you other then the duffel cut assessment. Mid-length duffel cuts on bring back 98k’s are quite common. I’ve seen more than i can count. It was just one of ways GI’s shortened the stocks for transport. They almost always cut them with the angle too. Unfortunately its just way more noticeable than the standard duffel cut style and so does affect the value a lot more. I do know some guys who have done good jobs repairing them though.
But regardless i don’t think OP liked the bad news and so deleted the pics and is trying to bury the thread.
Rifle will be up on ####### in week for $4k
I don't disagree that the cut may have been done by a GI, but the moniker "duffle cut" came about for a reason. The stock had to fit into a duffle bag. No, I'm not dissing you, but I've been asked why those cut off rifles were given that nickname.
I haven't found "duffle cut" stocks to devalue any of the K98s I've sold or bought. One thing about it though, it's about as good as a certificate stating its authenticity. I know of several in the US which have similar cuts to that on your rifle and they were purposely cut by their owners and glued back together, so they could sell the "story" as well as the rifles, which weren't nearly as expensive back then as they are today.
I haven't found "duffle cut" stocks to devalue any of the K98s I've sold or bought. One thing about it though, it's about as good as a certificate stating its authenticity. I know of several in the US which have similar cuts to that on your rifle and they were purposely cut by their owners and glued back together, so they could sell the "story" as well as the rifles, which weren't nearly as expensive back then as they are today.
stripperclipper
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Middle East Alberta
Post up your original query, please.
Why would you delete it?
All these guys give their opinions, share their knowledge, and you want to take it away from everyone else who comes after?
Why would you delete it?
All these guys give their opinions, share their knowledge, and you want to take it away from everyone else who comes after?
